Psalms 73
1 A Psalm by Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
BOOK III A Psalm of Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, even to such as are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone. My steps had nearly slipped.
But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
3 For I was envious of the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
For I was envious at the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For there are no struggles in their death, but their strength is firm.
For there are no pangs at their death, and their body is sound.
5 They are free from burdens of men, neither are they plagued like other men.
In the trouble of man they are not; neither are they plagued like men.
6 Therefore pride is like a chain around their neck. Violence covers them like a garment.
Therefore pride is as a chain about their neck; violence covereth them as a garment.
7 Their eyes bulge with fat. Their minds pass the limits of conceit.
Their eyes stand forth from fatness; they are gone beyond the imaginations of their heart.
8 They scoff and speak with malice. In arrogance, they threaten oppression.
They scoff, and in wickedness utter oppression; they speak as if there were none on high.
9 They have set their mouth in the heavens. Their tongue walks through the earth.
They have set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
10 Therefore their people return to them, and they drink up waters of abundance.
Therefore His people return hither; and waters of fullness are drained out by them.
11 They say, “How does God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?”
And they say: 'How doth God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?'
12 Behold, these are the wicked. Being always at ease, they increase in riches.
Behold, such are the wicked; and they that are always at ease increase riches.
13 Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence,
Surely in vain have I cleansed my heart, and washed my hands in innocency;
14 For all day long I have been plagued, and punished every morning.
For all the day have I been plagued, and my chastisement came every morning.
15 If I had said, “I will speak thus”, behold, I would have betrayed the generation of your children.
If I had said: 'I will speak thus', behold, I had been faithless to the generation of Thy children.
16 When I tried to understand this, it was too painful for me—
And when I pondered how I might know this, it was wearisome in mine eyes;
17 until I entered God’s sanctuary, and considered their latter end.
Until I entered into the sanctuary of God, and considered their end.
18 Surely you set them in slippery places. You throw them down to destruction.
Surely Thou settest them in slippery places; Thou hurlest them down to utter ruin.
19 How they are suddenly destroyed! They are completely swept away with terrors.
How are they become a desolation in a moment! They are wholly consumed by terrors.
20 As a dream when one wakes up, so, Lord, when you awake, you will despise their fantasies.
As a dream when one awaketh, so, O Lord, when Thou arousest Thyself, Thou wilt despise their semblance.
21 For my soul was grieved. I was embittered in my heart.
For my heart was in a ferment, and I was pricked in my reins.
22 I was so senseless and ignorant. I was a brute beast before you.
But I was brutish, and ignorant; I was as a beast before Thee.
23 Nevertheless, I am continually with you. You have held my right hand.
Nevertheless I am continually with Thee; Thou holdest my right hand.
24 You will guide me with your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
Thou wilt guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me with glory.
25 Whom do I have in heaven? There is no one on earth whom I desire besides you.
Whom have I in heaven but Thee? And beside Thee I desire none upon earth.
26 My flesh and my heart fails, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
My flesh and my heart faileth; but God is the rock of my heart and my portion for ever.
27 For, behold, those who are far from you shall perish. You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to you.
For, lo, they that go far from Thee shall perish; Thou dost destroy all them that go astray from Thee.
28 But it is good for me to come close to God. I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.
But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all Thy works.
